📖 A Thought from My Personal Meditation (Exodus 18)
As I was meditating on Exodus 18 today, one person especially caught my attention—Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses.
The more I reflected on his life, the more my respect and admiration for him grew.
Jethro was the priest of Midian. After Moses shared all that the Lord had done for Israel—how He delivered them from Egypt and brought them safely through every trial—Jethro’s response was truly remarkable.
He declared:
“Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods.”
Exodus 18:11
He then offered burnt offerings and sacrifices to the Lord. Jethro stands as one of the earliest Gentiles in Scripture who openly acknowledged the greatness of the God of Israel after hearing about His mighty works.
Another lesson from Jethro that deeply challenged me was his wise counsel.
He carefully observed Moses’ daily work and noticed that Moses was trying to carry every burden by himself. Out of genuine concern, Jethro advised him to appoint capable men who feared God, were trustworthy, and hated dishonest gain, so that they could share the responsibility of judging the people.
This counsel not only reduced Moses’ burden but also became a great blessing to the people of Israel.
There is another beautiful spiritual lesson here. Delegating responsibilities not only reduces the burden of one person but also creates opportunities for others to grow. When faithful people are entrusted with responsibilities in God’s work, they grow in responsibility, become more rooted in God’s Word, spend more time in prayer, and learn to depend more on God’s grace.
Therefore, delegation is not merely a leadership principle; it is also a God-given way of raising and discipling others.
It is remarkable that thousands of years ago, God used a Midianite priest to teach one of the greatest leaders in the Bible this timeless principle of delegation. Even today, this principle remains highly relevant in our families, workplaces, churches, and ministries.
When we look at Jethro’s family background, we find another beautiful truth. He was a descendant of Midian, one of Abraham’s sons through Keturah (Genesis 25:1–2).
This reminds us that God can use even the people we least expect to accomplish His purposes.
This chapter teaches us two important lessons:
- Like Jethro, may we recognize God’s greatness and worship Him wholeheartedly.
- Like Moses, may we have the humility to receive godly counsel, regardless of whom God chooses to speak through.
May God help us to recognize the godly counsel He brings into our lives, to receive it with humility, to remember that He can use anyone to accomplish His purposes, and to live as faithful servants—both men and women—who raise others into discipleship for His glory.
Have a blessed day!
God bless you all.
— Hineni Life | hinenilife.com/